The Punjab government declared all 23 districts flood-hit on Tuesday, saying the deluge had claimed 30 lives and affected over 3.5 lakh people so far. Dam reservoirs remained full to the brim while rivers flowed near the danger mark, prompting alerts in numerous regions.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, meanwhile, made separate visits to some of the afflicted districts. Mann explored the flood-damaged regions of Ferozepur by boat, while Kataria visited Ferozepur and the seriously hit areas of Tarn Taran.
Mann expressed significant worry about the “meagre compensation” provided to victims for losses caused by natural disasters and called for an increase in the Centre’s assistance norms. In the aftermath of the region’s floods, he asked the release of Punjab’s ‘60,000 crore “pending” funding from the Centre, stating he is seeking the state’s “rights” rather than “begging” for it.
Kataria supported the local farmers’ desire for permanent land ownership rights, allowing them to receive crop loss compensation and government benefits. “The matter will be brought to the attention of the CM and efforts will be made to resolve it permanently,” according to him.
Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian stated that the flood has spread to all 23 districts, up from 12, and that 1,400 villages have been listed as affected, affecting 3,54,626 people so far. Nearly 20,000 people have been evacuated from flood-affected areas.
The government reported that 1,48,590 hectares of standing crops had been damaged. Gurdaspur, Mansa, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, and Hoshiarpur are among the most severely affected places.
Mundian stated that 23 NDRF teams are operating in impacted districts, while the Army, Air Force, and Navy have dispatched 12 columns, two engineer columns, and around 35 helicopters for rescue and relief. The BSF has also provided ground support in border districts. In addition, 114 boats and one state helicopter are being used to evacuate people and deliver emergency supplies.
According to Health Minister Balbir Singh, 818 medical teams have been deployed in Punjab’s flood-hit areas. “Our goal is to ensure that no person is left without medical care,” he told me.
